Living In America
The Godfather of Soul’s estate shows what can go wrong with charitable bequests. James Brown died in 2006 and has yet to be properly buried, because his estate is bogged down in lawsuits. Two sets of executors have been replaced, and millions of dollars have been paid to creditors, law firms and various vendors, but the trust he established for the education of needy children in Georgia and South Carolina has yet to pay out a dime.
Only one thing has been resolved: His wife and children, who were left nothing, challenged the will in 2009 and were awarded half of his estate.
7. Jimi Hendrix
Worth: $175 million
Contested: Licensing rights
Feuding parties: His brother and adopted sister
Castles Made of Sand
Jimi Hendrix died without a will at age 27 in 1970, leaving an estate most recently valued at $175 million to his father, Al Hendrix, who had taken over control of the guitarist’s estate. It’s when Al died in 2002 that the rancor began. The bulk of the Hendrix estate was left to Al’s adopted daughter Janie. Al’s son Leon, and Leon’s children sued, saying Janie had pressured Al to leave them out of his last will. After a three-month trial, a judge ruled against Leon and his children. A series of suits ensued, and today the Hendrix estate and Jimi’s brother are still sorting out those issues in the same court where their legal tussle began.